Emirates, one of the UAE’s flagship carriers, have returned their oldest Airbus A380-861 to passenger service after 5 years of inactivity. The aircraft was originally built in February 2006, but put into storage at Dubai World Central International Airport (DWC) in 2020. This marks a key moment in aviation history, as this 19-year-old aircraft becomes the world’s oldest active passenger-carrying A380.
Emirates Bring Oldest A380 Back into Service
After extensive storage at DWC, the aircraft was ferried to Dubai International Airport (DXB) on December 30, 2023, completing a brief 21-minute journey. Prior to returning to passenger service, the aircraft underwent a 3-hour and 30-minute test flight on March 29, 2025. Its first commercial flight was EK925, traveling from Dubai (DXB) to Cairo (CAI). Since then, the aircraft (A6-EDF) has operated additional flights to destinations such as Jeddah (JED) and Zurich (ZRH).
The inaugural return flight, EK925, departed DXB at 22:39 arriving in Cairo (CAI) at midnight local time. The return flight EK926 left Cairo at 01:54, landing back in Dubai at 06:52.
Reintroducing an aging aircraft comes with its own set of operational difficulties. One of the key disadvantages is the increased weight of such aircraft as a result of the older airframes when compared to more model models. This often leads to increased fuel usage and higher maintenance expenses. Though, Emirates’ choice to bring A6-EDF back into service is probably influenced by positive economic factors, such as the aircraft’s acquisition costs being fully depreciated.
Who are Emirates?
Emirates is a prominent international airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Founded in 1985 with just two aircraft, it has since grown to become one of the world’s largest and most recognized airlines. Known for its luxury services, state-of-the-art fleet, and extensive global network, Emirates operates flights to over 150 destinations across six continents. The airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is owned by the government of Dubai.
Emirates is renowned for its commitment to providing high-quality passenger experiences, offering amenities like private suites, onboard showers, and fine dining, especially in its premium cabins. It operates a large fleet of wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777, and has established itself as a major player in both the long-haul travel market and the competitive Middle Eastern aviation sector.
The airline recently appeared in the news after the decision to introduce refreshed Boeing 777s on flights to Riyadh.
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